Mini Reflection for January 25, 2021
This week, we’re looking at the story of Cain and Abel.
You can read the full story here: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%204%3A1-16&version=GNT
Adam and Eve had children including two sons, Cain and Abel. Can was a farmer and offered God some of his crops. Abel was a shepherd and offered God a lamb. God accepted Abel’s offering and turned away Cain’s offering. Cain was jealous, the brothers argued, and Cain killed Abel.
Not the most heartwarming of stories, for sure. What I want to think about is how or what we think about offerings to God look like today. In the Bible, a long long time ago, sacrifices were made of things that were of worth to those making the offering. They often would give the best of what they had to God, a way of saying thanks and a way of recognizing that all good things come from God.
We read that Abel gave a lamb and sacrificed all the best parts of it. So what could have been a nice little feast, was given to God. We read that Cain gave up some of his harvest. I wonder how much time and energy it took for both of them to prepare their sacrifice. I wonder how much it ‘hurt’ them, how deep it impacted their lives to give up what they sacrificed.
Our own offerings to God are different in today’s society. It can be challenging to know what God wants us to offer and how to offer up a gift of thanksgiving. We mostly give our time, talents and treasures to organizations who serve those in need or we give directly. And how much of all of these things do we give? These are things for us to reflect on, personally, as our contexts vary.
Today, think about how we can return thanks to God, how we can show our appreciation for God’s presence in our lives, for the gifts and opportunities we are given and for the eternal love shown to us. You can donate to a church, knowing that God’s work is done through them or to a non-profit organization who is doing great works in our communities. If you can, today, donate to a place that is helping to change our world and say a prayer of thanks. They can really use our support and what a great blessing we can be to those who also are servants of God in our world.
A song for you today, “Magic Penny”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bk_7wUR2Wdg
A prayer for us today:
Creating God of great love, we give thanks for all we have been gifted with and ask you to continue blessing with us the gifts of this life – of time, talents, treasure, and especially for energy, passion and compassion. Help us to give thanks to you by helping others in our midst. May we be a blessing to others as you bless us. Amen.
This week, we’re looking at the story of Cain and Abel.
You can read the full story here: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%204%3A1-16&version=GNT
Adam and Eve had children including two sons, Cain and Abel. Can was a farmer and offered God some of his crops. Abel was a shepherd and offered God a lamb. God accepted Abel’s offering and turned away Cain’s offering. Cain was jealous, the brothers argued, and Cain killed Abel.
Not the most heartwarming of stories, for sure. What I want to think about is how or what we think about offerings to God look like today. In the Bible, a long long time ago, sacrifices were made of things that were of worth to those making the offering. They often would give the best of what they had to God, a way of saying thanks and a way of recognizing that all good things come from God.
We read that Abel gave a lamb and sacrificed all the best parts of it. So what could have been a nice little feast, was given to God. We read that Cain gave up some of his harvest. I wonder how much time and energy it took for both of them to prepare their sacrifice. I wonder how much it ‘hurt’ them, how deep it impacted their lives to give up what they sacrificed.
Our own offerings to God are different in today’s society. It can be challenging to know what God wants us to offer and how to offer up a gift of thanksgiving. We mostly give our time, talents and treasures to organizations who serve those in need or we give directly. And how much of all of these things do we give? These are things for us to reflect on, personally, as our contexts vary.
Today, think about how we can return thanks to God, how we can show our appreciation for God’s presence in our lives, for the gifts and opportunities we are given and for the eternal love shown to us. You can donate to a church, knowing that God’s work is done through them or to a non-profit organization who is doing great works in our communities. If you can, today, donate to a place that is helping to change our world and say a prayer of thanks. They can really use our support and what a great blessing we can be to those who also are servants of God in our world.
A song for you today, “Magic Penny”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bk_7wUR2Wdg
A prayer for us today:
Creating God of great love, we give thanks for all we have been gifted with and ask you to continue blessing with us the gifts of this life – of time, talents, treasure, and especially for energy, passion and compassion. Help us to give thanks to you by helping others in our midst. May we be a blessing to others as you bless us. Amen.